detailed, sections and estimates of the whole service; the survey herewith enclosed.
To the estimate of quantities of earthwork, rock cutting, grassing, and materials and labour to Bridges, in detail, I attached what I conceived to be a fair price for each particular item, having referred to locality from which material was removed, and the hardness or otherwise of the rocks cut and split or carried away, rate at which the several items were fixed.
In submitting this for the consideration of His Excellency the Governor, I wish to observe that some of the rates are lower than I would fix if estimating for a new work to cover the various difficulties which necessarily occur in cutting ground or forming a road, in that locality; but after having seen how the material was removed, the total absence of rock, (except where specified), the loose sandy soil and the consequent ease with which it must have been done, I do not think a higher rate should be fixed.
It is quite possible that under a portion of road, there may have been many irregularities of surface which would probably increase the quantity of material deposited to form the additional width; this I could not possibly take into account, or ever measured in any way; and it is this that I can account for the great difference between Mr. Napier's quantity of cutting and filling, and my own, amounting to 1405 cubic yards on the last portion of road.
As regards, a traction engine was in attendance.
The Contractor